A literary device is a technique or tool that writers use to enhance their writing by adding depth, meaning, and emotion beyond the literal words on the page. These devices help guide readers in how to interpret and connect with the text, often by creating comparisons, vivid imagery, sound effects, or structural complexity
. Literary devices can take many forms, including:
- Figures of speech like metaphors (direct comparisons) and similes (comparisons using "like" or "as") that create vivid or imaginative descriptions.
- Symbolism , where objects or characters represent broader abstract ideas.
- Sound devices such as alliteration and onomatopoeia that affect the auditory experience of the text.
- Plot devices like foreshadowing or flashbacks that add complexity to the narrative
They are distinct from but include literary elements (big-picture aspects like theme and setting) and literary techniques (specific applications like euphemisms and allusions)
. In essence, literary devices enrich writing by forging new connections and layers of meaning, making literature more engaging and powerful
